Discharge tube assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a luminous element with variable points of attachment, in which the attachment organ is constituted by a removable lateral extension which can be attached at any point on the length of said element, and comprises, on each of its faces, means for attaching the whole on a suitable support in any geometric arrangement.

United States Patent Adam 1 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] DISCHARGE TUBE ASSEMBLY 3,131,871 5/1964 Foulds ..240/2 [72] lnventor: Marie Henri Hubert Adam, Le Moulin, Larey par Bayon, Meurthe et Moselle, 3207'893 9/1965 Nada France [22] Filed, Oct 3 1969 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A 863,494 433,631 9/1967 Switzerland ..287/54 A No 68,039 7/1969 Germany ..240/51.11

[52] US. Cl ..240/1L4 N, 240/5 1.1 l, 287/54 A, Primary Examiner-Richard C Queisser 240/52 Assistant Examiner.lohn Whalen [51] Int. Cl. vF2110/00, H05b 33/02 Attorney-Linton & Linton [58] Field ofSearch ..46/26, 28,29;240/52, 73,

240/521, 10, 51.11, 11.4; 287/54 A, 189.36 [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a luminous element with vari- [56] References Cited able points of attachment, in which the attachment organ is UNITED STATES PATENTS constituted by a removable lateral extension which can be at- I tached at any point on the length of said element, and com- 2,272,275 2/1942 Pieper. ..240/1 prises, on each of its faces means f attaching the whole on 3 2,291,492 7/1942 Naysmith ..240/5 1 .1 1 Suitable support in any geometric arrangement 2,582,553 1/1952 McMurtie ..46/26 2,642,251 6/1953 .lanness ..248/343 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBFEB 2 9 I972 I n I I I u I awiikriri'rbi- I INVENTOR MARIE HENRI HUBERT HD/JM HTTOR KEYS DISCHARGE TUBE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a luminous element on the type comprising a tubular discharge lamp enclosed in a transparent or translucent sheath, with polygonal section, attached by one of its faces to a rigid frame, characterized in that said frame has a removable lateral extension capable of being attached at any suitable point on the length of the said element, the electric feed apparatus being lodged inside said removable extension, each of the outer faces of which can be used to attach said element to a support, a base, or a wall ferrule in any geometric arrangement.

According to one embodiment, said lateral extension has a section substantially identical to that of the luminous element for example, rectilinear, rectangular or square.

Said extension, which forms a case, is removably attached on the frame of the transparent sheath, sealed against atmospheric agents, to allow access to the electrical feed apparatus mounted on a support rigid with said frame, and to attach it at any suitable point against said frame according to the desired architectural effect.

Each face of the extension has a hole for passage of the feed wires, and tapped holes, for example for attaching it to a support, a base or wall ferrule, by means of bolts.

Said holes can be made in the course or assembly of manufacturing with the unused holes being closed by means of suitable stoppers.

In like fashion, the frame of the transparent sheath mentioned above can have holes for attaching the removable extension at the position on the frame chosen by the user.

The device of the invention permits the formation of a wide variety of lighting apparatus constituted by one or more rectilinear elements fixed by one outer face of their lateral extension to a main support in any geometric arrangement.

The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description thereof and with reference to the attached drawing by way of example only, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an element of the invention, showing in particular, the possibility of attaching the lateral extension to any point on the framework supporting the transparent sheath.

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in longitudinal section of the luminous element showing the attachment of the lateral extension, and of the electrical apparatus which it contains.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIIII in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views on a smaller scale, showing various possibilities of grouping and attaching two elements on a support with a view to providing a luminous set.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the tubular discharge lamp 1, is enclosed in a transparent or translucent sheath 2, with a square section, for example, closed at its ends and sealed against atmospheric agents, and one face of which sheath is attached to a rigid frame 3.

According to the present invention, the frame 3 has a lateral extension 4, constituted by a prismatic case removably attached to said frame, and whereof each of the outer faces can be used to attach said element to a support F, for example such as is represented in FIG. 4, 5 and 6.

The extension 4, which has a section substantially identical to that of sheath 2, is attached to the latter, at any point on its length, for example by means of holes 2 and 3', and screwing into a rectangular plate 6.

The frame 3 can have a certain number of holes 3 available for attachment of extension 4 at any point on its length.

Holes 2' in sheath 2 are preferably made during the assembly of extension 4.

Extension 4 comprises, on its outer faces, holes 7, perhaps tapped, for attaching it to any support F, and a hole 8 for passage of the electric feed cables.

Holes 7 and 8 are made at the time of assembly, either at the time of assembly or in the factory and in this case the holes not used can be closed by means of plugs 9.

Extension 4 is also used for lodging the electrical feed apparatus A fixed on a support 10, attached to frame 3 by means of screws 1 I screwed into plate 6.

Extension 4 communicates with sheath 2 by means of a hole 12 for the passage of the electrical feed cables for the tube 1. This hole 12 is preferably made during the assembly of the extension 4.

The device of the invention therefrom makes it possible to make luminous assemblies (FIG. 4, 5 and 6) the appearance of which is totally independent of the shape of its light sources 1.

This result is obtained by using sheaths with polygonal section, and judiciously attaching the extension 4 against the frame 2 and against support F.

Extension 4 can be articulated by one of its edges to the frame 3, and held thereby means of any conventional device, with or without screws.

Also, the attachment of the element of the invention can be effected by welding one face of its extension 4 onto a suitable support.

Finally, sheath 2 and, or extension 4 of the luminous element can be curvilinear.

Iclaim:

1. In a luminous element, with variable points of attachment, comprising in combination, a transparent sheath closed at its ends and sealed against atmospheric agents, said sheath having a section whose shape is independent of that of the lamp which it encloses and having at least one plane side, a hollow lateral extension having a plurality of plane faces, means detachably attaching one of said extension faces to any desired point along the length of one face of said sheath, and means on each of the plane faces of said extension for fixing said element on a support by one of said plane faces of said extension.

2. In a luminous element with variable points of attachment comprising in combination, a rectilinear, transparent sheath closed at its ends and sealed from atmospheric agents, said sheath having a section whose shape is independent of that of the lamp which it contains and having at least one plane side, a frame mounted along said plane side of said sheath, a hollow lateral extension having a plurality of plane faces, means on each of the plane faces for fixing said element on a support by one of said plane faces, tabs on said extension positioned against said sheath, bolts extending through said tabs, said frame having holes in a number larger than necessary for the passage of said bolts, a plate inside said sheath, tapped holes in said plate equal in number to those of said bolts, holes in said sheath for permitting the passage of said bolts, a hole both in the frame and in the sheath to connect the latter with said extension, an electrical feed apparatus for said lamp positioned in said extension, and holes on each face of said extension for attaching it by one of its said faces against a support, and to permit passage of the feed cables.

3. In a luminous element according to claim 2, wherein said sheath is of a polygonal section, a discharge lamp of elongate form and circular section is enclosed in said sheath, and said lateral extension has a polygonal section substantially identical to that of said sheath.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECHGN Patent No. 3.: 55,46,340 Dated Fgbruary 9: -97

Inventor(s) Marie Henri Hubert Adam It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the :over sheet, after the name and address of the Assignee should read [33] France [3 .5 77

5.1 gned and sealed this 7th day of November 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissioner of Patents DRM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 n US GOVERNMENT PRINYING OFFICE: I969 O356-336 

1. In a luminous element, with variable points of attachment, comprising in combination, a transparent sheath closed at its ends and sealed against atmospheric agents, said sheath having a section whose shape is independent of that of the lamp which it encloses and having at least one plane side, a hollow lateral extension having a plurality of plane faces, means detachably attaching one of said extension faces to any desired point along the length of one face of said sheath, and means on each of the plane faces of said extension for fixing said element on a support by one of said plane faces of said extension.
 2. In a luminous element with variable points of attachment comprising in combination, a rectilinear, transparent sheath closed at its ends and sealed from atmospheric agents, said sheath having a section whose shape is independent of that of the lamp which it contains and having at least one plane side, a frame mounted along said plane side of said sheath, a hollow lateral extension having a plurality of plane faces, means on each of the plane faces for fixing said element on a support by one of said plane faces, tabs on said extension positioned against said sheath, bolts extending through said tabs, said frame having holes in a number larger than necessary for the passage of said bolts, a plate inside said sheath, tapped holes in said plate equal in number to those of said bolts, holes in said sheath for permitting the passage of said bolts, a hole both in the frame and in the sheath to connect the latter with said extension, an electrical feed apparatus for said lamp positioned in said extension, and holes on each face of said extension for attaching it by one of its said faces against a support, and to permit passage of the feed cables.
 3. In a luminous element according to claim 2, wherein said sheath is of a polygonal section, a discharge lamp of elongate form and circular section is enclosed in said sheath, and said lateral extension has a polygonal section substantially identical to that of said sheath. 